Method, system and apparatus for chromatic dispersion compensation utilizing a gires-tournois interferometer

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides an improved chromatic dispersion compensator. The compensator includes an input optical fiber; an output optical fiber; a collimator optically coupled to the input and output optical fibers; and an interferometer optically coupled to the collimator at a side opposite to the input and output optical fibers. In a preferred embodiment, the interferometer is a Gires-Tournois interferometer. A plurality of sequentially optically coupled chromatic dispersion compensators may also be used. The compensator in accordance with the present invention provides flexibility in producing periodically varying chromatic dispersion so as to compensate for unwanted periodic chromatic dispersion produced in an interferometric interleaved channel separator. Also, the compensator enables compensation of fiber optic chromatic dispersion.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to fiber optic networks, and moreparticularly to chromatic dispersion compensators utilized in fiberoptic communications networks that carry wavelength division multiplexedinformation signals.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fiber optic communication systems are becoming increasingly popular fordata transmission due to their high speed and high data capacitycapabilities. Wavelength division multiplexing is used in such fiberoptic communication systems to transfer a relatively large amount ofdata at a high speed. In wavelength division multiplexing, multipleinformation-carrying signals, each signal comprising light of a specificrestricted wavelength range, may be transmitted along the same opticalfiber.

In this specification, these individual information-carrying lights arereferred to as either “signals” or “channels.” The totality of multiplecombined signals in a wavelength-division multiplexed optical fiber,optical line or optical system, wherein each signal is of a differentwavelength range, is herein referred to as a “composite optical signal.”

The term “wavelength,” denoted by the Greek letter λ (lambda) is usedsynonymously with the terms “signal” or “channel.” Although eachinformation-carrying channel actually comprises light of a certain rangeof physical wavelengths, for simplicity, a single channel is referred toas a single wavelength, λ, and a plurality of n such channels arereferred to as “n wavelengths” denoted λ₁-λ_(n). Used in this sense, theterm “wavelength” may be understood to refer to “the channel nominallycomprised of light of a range of physical wavelengths centered at theparticular wavelength, λ.”

One common and well-known problem in the transmission of optical signalsis chromatic dispersion of the optical signal. Chromatic dispersionrefers to the effect wherein the various physical wavelengths comprisingan individual channel either travel through an optic fiber or componentat different speeds—for instance, longer wavelengths travel faster thanshorter wavelengths, or vice versa—or else travel different length pathsthrough a component. This is a particular problem that becomes moreacute for data transmission speeds higher than 2.5 gigabytes per second.The resulting pulses of the signal will be stretched, will possiblyoverlap, and will cause increased difficulty for optical receivers todistinguish where one pulse begins and another ends. This effectseriously compromises the integrity of the signal. Therefore, for afiber optic communication system to provide a high transmissioncapacity, the system must compensate for chromatic dispersion.

The chromatic dispersion characteristics of optical fibers andcomponents are given by the quantity D (ps−km⁻¹−nm⁻¹) defined by therelationship of Eq. 1 $\begin{matrix}{D = {{\frac{}{\lambda}\left( \frac{1}{v_{g}} \right)} = {\frac{1}{L}\left( \frac{\tau_{g}}{\lambda} \right)}}} & (1)\end{matrix}$

wherein λ is the channel wavelength (nm), v_(g) is the group velocity(km/ps), τ_(g) is the group delay time (ps), and L is the fiber length(km). If v_(g) decreases with increasing wavelength (i.e., longer or“red” wavelengths travel slower than relatively shorter or “blue”wavelengths) then D is positive, otherwise D is negative.

Conventional apparatuses that can be used as dispersion compensatingcomponents include dispersion compensation fiber, chirped fiber Bragggratings, and diffraction gratings.

A dispersion compensation fiber, which is used in-line within a fibercommunications system, has a special cross-section index profile so asto provide chromatic dispersion that is opposite to that of ordinaryfiber within the system. The summation of the two opposite types ofdispersion negates the chromatic dispersion of the system. However,dispersion compensation fiber is expensive to manufacture, has arelatively large optical attenuation, must be relatively long tosufficiently compensate for chromatic dispersion and cannot compensatefor periodically varying chromatic dispersion.

A chirped fiber Bragg grating is a special fiber with spatiallymodulated refractive index that is designed so that longer (shorter)wavelength components are reflected at a farther distance along thechirped fiber Bragg grating than are the shorter (longer) wavelengthcomponents. By causing certain wavelength components to travel longerdistances than other wavelength components, a controlled delay is addedto those components and opposite dispersion can be added to a pulse.Unfortunately, a chirped fiber Bragg grating has a very narrow bandwidthfor reflecting pulses, and therefore cannot provide a wavelength bandsufficient to compensate for light including many wavelengths, such as awavelength division multiplexed light. A number of chirped fiber Bragggratings may be cascaded for wavelength multiplexed signals, but thisresults in an expensive system.

A conventional diffraction grating has the property of outputtingdifferent wavelengths at different angles. By using a pair of gratingsin a coupled spatial arrangement, this property can be used tocompensate chromatic dispersion in a fiber communications system. Insuch a spatial grating pair arrangement, lights of different wavelengthsare diffracted from a first grating at different angles. These lightsare then input to a second grating that diffracts them a second time soas to set their pathways parallel to one another. Because the differentlights travel with different angles between the two gratings, certainwavelength components are made to travel longer distances than thosetraveled by other wavelength components. Chromatic dispersion isproduced in the spatial grating pair arrangement because the wavelengthcomponents that travel the longer distances incur time delays relativeto those that travel the shorter distances. This grating-producedchromatic dispersion can be made to be opposite to that of the fibercommunications system, thereby compensating the chromatic dispersionwithin the system. However, a practical spatial grating pair arrangementcannot provide a large enough dispersion to compensate for therelatively large amount of chromatic dispersion occurring in a fiberoptic communication system. More specifically, the angular dispersionproduced by a diffraction grating is usually extremely small, and istypically approximately 0.05 degrees/nm. Therefore, to compensate forchromatic dispersion occurring in a fiber optic communication system,the two gratings of a spatial grating pair would have to be separated bya very large distance, thereby making such a spatial grating pairarrangement impractical.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved chromatic dispersioncompensator. The present invention addresses such a need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an improved chromatic dispersioncompensator. The compensator includes an input optical fiber; an outputoptical fiber; a collimator optically coupled to the input and outputoptical fibers; and an interferometer optically coupled to thecollimator at a side opposite to the input and output optical fibers. Ina preferred embodiment, the interferometer is a Gires-Tournoisinterferometer. A plurality of sequentially optically coupled chromaticdispersion compensators may also be used. The compensator in accordancewith the present invention provides flexibility in producingperiodically varying chromatic dispersion so as to compensate forunwanted periodic chromatic dispersion produced in an interferometricinterleaved channel separator. Also, the compensator enablescompensation of fiber optic chromatic dispersion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1a illustrates a first preferred embodiment of a chromaticdispersion compensator in accordance with the present invention.

FIGS. 1b-1 d illustrate a first, second, and third preferred embodimentsof a Gires-Tournois interferometer that may be utilized within thechromatic dispersion compensator in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIG. 2a illustrates a second preferred embodiment of the chromaticdispersion compensator in accordance with the present invention.

FIGS. 2b-2 c respectively illustrate a detailed cut-away view and topview of a lens/spacer element that is utilized within the secondembodiment of the chromatic dispersion compensator in accordance withthe present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a third preferred embodiment of the chromaticdispersion compensator in accordance with the present invention.

FIGS. 4a-4 b illustrate an interferometric channel separator which maycause undesirable chromatic dispersion.

FIG. 4c is a graph of the pass band of a channel from one output of theinterferometric channel separator of FIG. 4a.

FIG. 4d is a graph of the chromatic dispersion produced by the channelseparator in FIG. 4a together with graphs of the chromatic dispersionproduced by three different configurations of chromatic dispersioncompensator in accordance with the present invention.

FIGS. 5a-5 c, respectively, illustrate a first, second, and thirdpreferred embodiments of a system for compensating for chromaticdispersion in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6a illustrates a dense optical comb filter that utilizes anon-linear interferometer and a birefringent wedge.

FIG. 6b illustrates the optical pathways of signals comprising evenchannels and comprising odd channels through the dense optical channelcomb filter in FIG. 6a.

FIG. 7a illustrates another optical comb filter that utilizes anon-linear interferometer and a birefringent wedge.

FIG. 7b illustrates the optical pathways of signals comprising evenchannels and comprising odd channels through the dense optical channelcomb filter in FIG. 7a.

FIGS. 8a and 8 b illustrate, respectively, a fourth and fifth preferredembodiments of a system for compensating for chromatic dispersion inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates a sixth preferred embodiment of a system forcompensating for chromatic dispersion in accordance with the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides an improved chromatic dispersioncompensator. The following description is presented to enable one ofordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and is providedin the context of a patent application and its requirements. Variousmodifications to the preferred embodiment will be readily apparent tothose skilled in the art and the generic principles herein may beapplied to other embodiments. Thus, the present invention is notintended to be limited to the embodiment shown but is to be accorded thewidest scope consistent with the principles and features describedherein.

To more particularly describe the features of the present invention,please refer to FIGS. 1a through 8 b in conjunction with the discussionbelow.

FIG. 1a illustrates a first preferred embodiment of a chromaticdispersion compensator in accordance with the present invention. Thechromatic dispersion compensator 100 comprises an input fiber 102, anoutput fiber 103 disposed adjacent and parallel to the input fiber 102,a lens or lens assembly 106 optically coupled to the fibers 102-103 anddisposed substantially at its focal distance f from the end faces of thefibers 102-103 and a Gires-Tournois interferometer 108 optically coupledto the lens 106 and disposed at a side of the lens 106 opposite from thefibers 102-103. The two fibers 102-103 are equidistantly disposed aboutan axis 109 that is parallel to the long dimension of the fibers 102-103and passes through the center of the lens 106 and the Gires-Tournoisinterferometer 108.

In operation, a composite optical signal 104 that comprises undesiredchromatic dispersion is delivered to the compensator 100 from the inputfiber 102, passes through the lens 106 and is collimated by this lens106. The collimated composite optical signal interacts with and thenreflects from the Gires-Tournois interferometer 108 within a region 113that is centered about the axis 109. The Gires-Tournois interferometer108 adds a chromatic dispersion to each channel of the composite opticalsignal 104 as described in greater detail below. This added chromaticdispersion compensates for undesired chromatic dispersion in thecomposite optical signal 104 by algebraic cancellation—that is,wavelengths of light of each channel comprising undesired positivechromatic dispersion receive compensatory negative chromatic dispersionand vice versa. The added chromatic dispersion comprises a periodicityin frequency that matches the spacing between channels. The reflected,dispersion compensated composite optical signal 105 then returns fromthe Gires-Tournois interferometer 108 as a collimated beam that isfocused by lens 106 into the output optical fiber 103.

FIG. 1b illustrates a first preferred embodiment of a Gires-Tournoisinterferometer that may be utilized within the chromatic dispersioncompensator in accordance with the present invention. The Gires-Tournoisinterferometer 108.1 comprises two glass plates 180A-180B opticallycoupled to one another, wherein the first glass plate 180A comprises awedge shape. The inside face of the second glass plate 180B is coated toform a reflective surface 120 with a reflectivity preferably ofapproximately 100%. The inside face of the first glass plate 180A issubstantially parallel to the inside face of glass plate 180B and iscoated to form a partially reflective surface 140 with a reflectivityless than 100%. The two glass plates are separated by spacers 112, suchthat an interferometric cavity 110 of optical path length L_(o) iscreated between the partially reflective surface 140 and the 100%reflective surface 120. The spacers 112 preferably comprise azero-thermal-expansion or low-thermal-expansion material. The length ofthe spacers 112 is adjusted during manufacture so as to provide adesired periodicity to the chromatic dispersion of the Gires-Tournoisinterferometer 108.

It is well known that interference between separate portions of lightreflected from the front 140 and rear 120 reflective surfaces of aGires-Tournois interferometer 108 produces a periodic variation of phaseshift of the reflected light. Assuming no light loss between the tworeflective surfaces 120 and 140, a 100% reflectivity of the rear surface120, a power reflectance r of the front surface 140, a physical distanced between the two surfaces 120 and 140, and a refractive index η of thematerial between the two surfaces 120 and 140, the phase shift θ of aGires-Tournois interferometer is given by $\begin{matrix}\begin{matrix}{\theta = \quad {{- 2}\quad {\tan^{- 1}\left\lbrack {\frac{1 - \sqrt{r}}{1 + \sqrt{r}}\quad \tan \quad \left( \frac{2\quad \pi \quad \eta \quad d}{\lambda} \right)} \right\rbrack}}} \\{= \quad {{- 2}\quad {\tan^{- 1}\left\lbrack {\frac{1 - \sqrt{r}}{1 + \sqrt{r}}\quad \tan \quad \left( \frac{2\quad \pi \quad v\quad \eta \quad d}{c} \right)} \right\rbrack}}}\end{matrix} & (2)\end{matrix}$

wherein λ is wavelength, v is frequency and c is the velocity of light.In the Gires-Tournois interferometer 108.1 (FIG. 1b), η=1 and thusηd=L₀. The period, or Free Spectral Range, FSR_(GT), associated with θis given, in terms of frequency, by

FSR _(GT) =c/2ηd  (3)

The group delay τ_(GT)(λ) introduced by the interferometer as a functionof wavelength, in units of time is then given by $\begin{matrix}{{\tau_{GT}(\lambda)} = {\frac{- \lambda^{2}}{2\quad \pi \quad c}\quad \frac{\theta}{\lambda}}} & (4)\end{matrix}$

and the introduced chromatic dispersion in units of time per unitwavelength is given by $\begin{matrix}{{D_{GT}(\lambda)} = \frac{\tau_{GT}}{\lambda}} & (5)\end{matrix}$

wherein θ is as given by Equation 2 above.

FIG. 1c illustrates a second preferred embodiment of a Gires-Tournoisinterferometer that may be utilized within the chromatic dispersioncompensator in accordance with the present invention. The Gires-Tournoisinterferometer 108.2 comprises all the elements of the Gires-Tournoisinterferometer 108.1 (FIG. 1b) in addition to an optical lengthadjustment element 195. The optical length adjustment element 195preferably comprises glass and is disposed within the cavity 110 at acertain “tilt” angle a with respect to the reflective surfaces 120 and140. The optical path length L₀ between the reflective surfaces 120 and140 depends, in part, on the optical path length L₁₉₅ through theoptical length adjustment element 195. This quantity L₁₉₅ is, in turn,related to the physical path length of signals 104-105 through theelement 195 as well as the refractive index of element 195. Since, thisphysical path length depends upon the tilt angle α of element 195, thenit follows that the quantity L₁₉₅ and the quantity L₀ depend upon theangle α. Thus, by adjusting the angle α, it is possible to control the“phase” of the periodic curve of the chromatic dispersion produced byconstructive and destructive interference within the cavity 110. Theangle a may be set during manufacture or may be adjustable by means of amechanical tilt adjustment so that the chromatic dispersion periodicitymay be varied during operation of the dispersion compensator 100.

FIG. 1d illustrates a third preferred embodiment of a Gires-Tournoisinterferometer that may be utilized within the chromatic dispersioncompensator in accordance with the present invention. The Gires-Tournoisinterferometer 108.3 comprises all the elements of the Gires-Tournoisinterferometer 108.1 (FIG. 1b) in addition to a piezoelectric element122 attached to the second glass plate 180B. Instead of being disposedon the second glass plate 180B, the 100% reflective surface 120comprising the Gires-Tournois interferometer 108.3 is disposed upon thepiezoelectric element 122 facing into the cavity 110. By controlling avoltage applied across the piezoelectric element 122, the variablethickness t of the piezoelectric element 122 may be very accuratelycontrolled. This property of piezoelectric materials is well known. Inthis fashion, the optical path length L₀ between the reflective surfaces120 and 140 may be controlled. Thus, by adjusting the thickness t, it ispossible to control the “phase” of the periodic curve of the chromaticdispersion produced by constructive and destructive interference withinthe cavity 110.

FIG. 2a illustrates a second preferred embodiment of a chromaticdispersion compensator in accordance with the present invention. Thechromatic dispersion compensator 200 operates similarly to the chromaticdispersion compensator 100 (FIG. 1a) since both of these embodimentsincorporate the same Gires-Tournois interferometer 108. However, thechromatic dispersion compensator 200 utilizes an integrated opticalcollimator device 210 in place of the separate lens 106 and fibers102-103 of the chromatic dispersion compensator 100 (FIG. 1a). Theintegrated optical collimator device is described in more detail in aco-pending U.S. patent application entitled “Optical Collimator DeviceUtilizing an Integrated Lens/Spacer Element”, Ser. No. 09/739,951, filedon Dec. 18, 2000, which is incorporated herein in its entirety byreference. The optical collimator device 210 comprises an input opticalfiber 202, an output optical fiber 203, a glass plate 254 that isoptically coupled to the two optical fibers 202-203, and a lens/spacerelement 260 that is optically coupled to the glass plate 254 at a sideopposite to the optical fibers 202-203. The glass plate 254 comprises afirst end face 255 a and a second end face 255 b. The end face 255 a isdisposed at a slight angle to the long dimensions of the fibers 202-203to prevent unwanted back reflections.

The lens/spacer element 260 is physically coupled to both the plate 254and the Gires-Tournois interferometer 108 by suitable adhesive 271 whichpreferably comprises epoxy. The magnitude of the length s of thelens/spacer element 260 is chosen so that the incoming uncompensatedsignal light 104 (FIG. 2a), after having been collimated and diverted bythe lens/spacer element 260, impinges upon and reflects from theGires-Tournois interferometer 108 within a region 113 that is centeredabout the axis 109 extending parallel to and midway between the twofibers 202-203 (FIG. 2a). With the value of s so chosen, the reflectedand compensated signal light 105 is re-focused by the lens/spacerelement 260 in such a way as to enter the output fiber 203.

FIGS. 2b-2 c respectively illustrate a detailed cut-away view and topview of a lens/spacer element 260 that is utilized within the secondpreferred embodiment of the chromatic dispersion compensator inaccordance with the present invention. The lens/spacer element 260comprises a single piece of material of a complex shape and may beapproximately described as a rectangular block hollowed out from oneside with a lens surface on the interior face of the opposing side. Thematerial comprising the lens/spacer element 260 comprises an opticallyisotropic material, preferably glass or solid polymer, which can be cutfrom or molded into a single piece.

Specifically, the lens/spacer element 260 comprises a floor sectionintegrated with four side-wall sections 268. The floor section comprisesa substantially flat exterior basal surface 266 a, a flat interior floorsurface 266 b adjoining the side-walls 268 and a raised convex lenssurface 266 c protruding centrally above the interior floor surface 266b. The exterior basal surface 266 a defines a “bottom” of thelens/spacer element 260. The top surface 268 a is substantially flat andsubstantially parallel to the basal surface 266 a and comprises the endsof the four side-wall segments 268.

In operation, the raised convex surface 266 c performs the function ofeither a collimating or focusing lens for a through-going set of lightrays, wherein the light rays are constrained to pass only through theportion of the floor section lying “underneath” the convex surface 266c. The top surface 268 a and the portion of the exterior basal surface266 a lying “underneath” the flat interior floor surface 266 b and theside walls 268 comprise attachment areas of the lens/spacer element 260whereupon adhesive 271 may be applied (FIG. 2a). Through this attachmentconfiguration, light is prevented from passing through the adhesive. Thefour side-wall segments 208 comprise spacers of length s.

FIG. 3 illustrates a third preferred embodiment of a chromaticdispersion compensator in accordance with the present invention. Thechromatic dispersion compensator 300 comprises a set of m multiplesequentially arranged dispersion compensators 302.1-302.m. Each of theindividual compensators 302.1, 302.2, . . . , 302.m may comprise thespecific device 100 (FIG. 1a) or the specific device 200 (FIG. 2a).Further, the Gires-Tournois interferometer 108 comprising each of theindividual compensators 302.1, 302.2, . . . , 302.m may comprise any oneof the device embodiments 108.1 (FIG. 1b), 108.2 (FIG. 1c) or 108.3(FIG. 1d). The individual compensators 302.1, 302.2, . . . , 302.m areoptically coupled in sequence by the m−1 optical couplings304.1-304.(m−1), each of which preferably comprises an optical fiber.

In the device 300, the various Gires-Tournois interferometers 108 withinthe sequence of individual compensators 302.1, 302.2, . . . , 302.mcomprise various sets of operational parameters that may vary from oneindividual compensator to another. These operational parametersassociated with a particular one of the individual compensators 302.1,302.2, . . . , 302.m comprise the reflectivity r₁ of the frontreflective surface 140 (FIG. 1b) of and the optical path length L₀ ofthe interferometer 108 of the particular compensator. As is explained ingreater detail in the discussion of FIG. 4 below, a variation in r₁changes the breadth and height of the peaks of the curve of introducedchromatic dispersion whereas a variation of L₀ effectively changes the“phase” of these peaks, as a function of physical wavelength. By summingthe resulting series of chromatic dispersion curves, the compensatorychromatic dispersion introduced by the device 300 may be made to conformto a particular desired form, as a function of physical wavelength.

In operation of the chromatic dispersion compensator 300 (FIG. 3), acomposite optical signal 104 that requires chromatic dispersioncompensation and comprises the set of n channels λ₁-λ_(n) enters thefirst compensator 302.1 in the series of compensators. The compositeoptical signal 104 is then directed to each one of the remainingindividual compensators 302.2-302.m in sequence by means of the opticalcouplings 304.1-304.(m−1). In each of the individual compensators302.1-302.m, partial compensatory chromatic dispersion is introducedinto each of the channels λ₁-λ_(n) comprising the composite opticalsignal 104. Finally, the composite optical signal 105 comprising thechromatic dispersion compensated channels λ₁ ^(c)-λ_(n) ^(c) exits thedevice 300 from the compensator 302.m. The compensatory chromaticdispersion introduced into each of the channels comprises the algebraicsum of that introduced within each one of the individual compensators302.1-302.m. Since each individual compensators 302.1-302.m introduces aperiodic chromatic dispersion curve into the composite optical signaland since the period and magnitude of the introduced chromaticdispersion may vary one such compensator to another in a controlledfashion, very complicated periodic dispersion may be generated by (andthus compensated by) the chromatic dispersion compensator 300.

For example, FIGS. 4a-4 b illustrate an interferometric channelseparator which may cause undesirable chromatic dispersion. FIG. 4c is agraph of a typical channel pass band, and FIG. 4d is a graph of atypical curve of the undesirable chromatic dispersion introduced in thevicinity of the channel pass band by the interferometric channelseparator in FIG. 4a. Additional graphs in FIG. 4d represent the typicalchromatic dispersion of curves that may be introduced by three differentconfigurations of a chromatic dispersion compensator in accordance withthe present invention.

The separator illustrated in FIG. 4a is described in detail in U.S. Pat.No. 6,130,971, filed on Aug. 6, 1998, issued on Oct. 10, 2000, andassigned to the assignee of the present application, which isincorporated herein in its entirety by reference. The separator 400comprises an optic fiber 410 for inputting an optical signal and opticfibers 420 and 430 for outputting optical signals. As the signal leavesthe optic fiber 410, it diverges. A lens 450 contains the signal anddirects it toward a polarization beam splitter 470 which decomposes thesignal based on its polarity. The S-polarized portion of the signal isreflected toward an interferometer 490A. The P-polarized portion of thesignal passes through the polarization beam splitter 470 toward aninterferometer 490B. The interferometers 490A and 490B introduce phasedifferences between the even and odd channels of the S polarizationlight and P polarization light. Together with the properties of thepolarization beam splitter, these phase shifts result in one set ofchannels (e.g., the “odd” channels) being directed to fiber 420 whilstthe remaining channels (e.g., the “even” channels) are directed to fiber430.

FIG. 4b illustrates an embodiment of an interferometer 490 which may beused within the separator 400 as the interferometers 490A-490B. Thisinterferometer has been disclosed in co-pending U.S. Patent Applicationentitled “Nonlinear Interferometer for Fiber Optic Dense WavelengthDivision Multiplexer Utilizing a Phase Differential Method of WavelengthSeparation,” Ser. No. 09/247,253, filed on Feb. 10, 1999 now U.S. Pat.No. 6,169,604 and assigned to the assignee of the present application.Applicant hereby incorporates the application by reference.

The interferometer 490 (FIG. 2) comprises two glass plates 780A-780B.The inside face of the glass plate 780B is coated with a layer ofreflective coating 720 with a reflectivity preferably of 100%. Theinside face of the glass plate 780A is coated with a layer of reflectivecoating 740 with a reflectivity preferably of approximately 18%. The twoglass plates 780A-780B are set apart by zero expansion cavity spacers810, creating a main cavity 820. The working principle of theinterferometer 490 is described in detail in the above referenced patentapplication, Ser. No. 09/247,253 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,169,604. The twointerferometers 490A-490B have the same structure and function in thesame manner.

FIG. 4c shows a typical optical pass band spectrum corresponding to oneparticular channel—whose center 331 is at 194.05 THz—of a first output(either “even” or “odd”) of the channel separator 400 (FIG. 4a). Furtherpass bands corresponding to other channels (not shown) from the sameoutput are spaced every 100 GHz (i.e., 0.1 TH₂). For instance, pass bandcenters of neighboring channels comprising the same output are locatedat 193.95 THz and 194.15 THz. Pass bands corresponding to channels (notshown) corresponding to the second output from the same channelseparator are also spaced every 100 GHz, but are offset by 50 GHz fromthose of the first output. For instance, pass band centers of channelscomprising the second output are located at 194.00 THz, 194.10 THz, etc.The pass bands of even and odd channels cross at a repeating sequence offrequencies comprising 50% transmission points 327.

The interleaved outputs of the interferometer-based channel separator400 (FIG. 4a) can exhibit a large amount of high-order, nonlinearchromatic dispersion. This problem is significantly compounded whenthese channel separators are cascaded (i.e., sequentially arranged) toproduce high channel isolation. In such a configuration, the chromaticdispersion can vary from as high as +150 ps/nm to −150 ps/nm within eachpassband.

FIG. 4d illustrates the chromatic dispersion curve 320 of the channelseparator 400 (FIG. 4a). The curve 407 a, indicated by a dotted line,illustrates the corrective compensation provided by utilizing a singlechromatic dispersion compensation device in accordance with the presentinvention comprising either the device 100 or the device 200. Becausethe “peaks” in curve 407 a correspond to “valleys” in curve 320, thissingle device configuration can eliminate (that is, compensate for) muchof the chromatic dispersion of the channel separator 400, as given bycurve 320. However, this configuration yields a very sharp transition incurve 407 a from large positive dispersion to large negative dispersionat the center frequency 331 of the channel pass band.

The curve 407 b of FIG. 4d, indicated by a dashed line, illustrates thecorrective compensation provided by utilizing the chromatic dispersioncompensator device 300 comprising two individual compensators302.1-302.2 wherein the front reflective surface reflectivities r₁ arereduced relative to the device represented by curve 407 a. In this case,the sharpness of the transition is reduced such that this secondconfiguration provides a more uniform dispersion compensation in thevicinity of the pass band centers 331. The curve 407 c of FIG. 4d,indicated by a thin solid line, illustrates the corrective compensationprovided by utilizing the chromatic dispersion compensator device 300comprising three individual compensators 302.1-302.3 wherein the frontsurface 140 reflectivities r₁ are similar but the cavity optical pathlengths are all different. In this configuration, the positivedispersion region of the second compensator 302.2 can be made topartially cancel the negative dispersion region of the first compensator302.1 before the net zero-dispersion crossover point at the pass bandcenter 331 whilst the negative dispersion region of the firstcompensator 302.1 can be made to partially cancel the positivedispersion of the second compensator 302.2 after the net zero-dispersioncrossover point. These cancellations creates a central region of slowvariation from positive to negative dispersion at the pass band center331. The third compensator 302.3 is included to provide an extra degreeof freedom in the generation of the summation curve.

Many other choices may be made in terms of the numbers, surfacereflectivities and optical path lengths of the various interferometerdevices comprising the chromatic dispersion compensator 300, and theinvention is not intended to be limited to the specific example of threedevices described above. It can be seen from the example of FIG. 4d thatany desired level of chromatic dispersion compensation may be achievedwithin the vicinity of the channel separator pass band by using thechromatic dispersion compensators in accordance with the presentinvention. The residual chromatic dispersion can be made closer tozero—that is, the chromatic dispersion of the channel separator can bemore accurately compensated—within a wider frequency region by utilizingmore than three individual compensators 302.1, 302.2, etc. within thedevice 300.

The temperature dependence of the chromatic dispersion curve of any ofthe chromatic dispersion compensators 100, 200, 300 in accordance withthe present invention is substantially identical to that of the channelseparator 400(FIG. 4a) described above. This is because theGires-Tournois interferometer 108 comprising various embodiments inaccordance with the present invention is constructed similarly to thenon-linear interferometer 490 (FIG. 4b) comprising the channel separator400. Therefore, any FSR shifts of the channel separator 400 withtemperature are mimicked by similar FSR shifts within the chromaticdispersion compensators 100, 200, 300 in accordance with the presentinvention. Thus, the degree of chromatic dispersion compensation isvirtually temperature insensitive.

FIG. 5a illustrates a first preferred embodiment of a system forcompensating for chromatic dispersion in accordance with the presentinvention. In the system 500, the chromatic dispersion of a 1×2 channelseparator 504 is compensated. A single chromatic dispersion compensator300 and a 1×2 channel separator 504 are optically coupled in sequencesuch that the output of the chromatic dispersion compensator 300 issubsequently input to the channel separator 504. In operation of thesystem 500, a composite optical signal 104 comprising the n channelsλ₁-λ_(n) is input to the chromatic dispersion compensator 300 from afiber optic communications system or line. The chromatic dispersioncompensator 300 comprises any number m (m≧1) of sequentially disposedindividual devices each in accordance with either the first embodiment100 (FIG. 1a) or the second embodiment 200 (FIG. 2a) of the compensatorin accordance with the present invention. It is assumed that thechannels of the input composite optical signal 104 do not comprisechromatic dispersion. Subsequently, the chromatic dispersion compensator300 produces chromatic dispersion within each of the channels andoutputs a composite optical signal 105 wherein the channels λ₁^(u)-λ_(n) ^(u) incorporate the added chromatic dispersion. Thecomposite optical signal 105 is then input to the input port 506 of the1×2 channel separator 504 wherein it is separated into a first set 105 acomprising the odd channels λ₁, λ₃, λ₅, . . . output from output port508 a, and a second set 105 b comprising the even channels λ₂, λ₄, λ₆, .. . output from output port 508 b. The two sets 105 a-105 b are thendelivered to one or more fiber optic communications systems or lines.The 1×2 channel separator 504 introduces additional chromatic dispersionto each one of the channels comprising the two sets 105 a-105 b. Thechromatic dispersion compensator 300 is configured such that thechromatic dispersion produced in each of the channels by the 1×2 channelseparator 504 substantially cancels the chromatic dispersion previouslyproduced by the chromatic dispersion compensator 300. Therefore, thechannels comprising of each of the outputs 105 a-105 b of the channelseparator 504 exhibit substantially no chromatic dispersion upon outputfrom the system 500.

FIG. 5b illustrates a second preferred embodiment of a system forcompensating for chromatic dispersion in accordance with the presentinvention. As in system 500 (FIG. 5a), system 550 also compensates forthe chromatic dispersion of a 1×2 channel separator 504. In the system550, a 1×2 channel separator 504 is optically coupled in sequence withtwo chromatic dispersion compensators 300 a-300 b such that the first,odd-channel, set 104 a output from the 1×2 channel separator 504 issubsequently input to the first chromatic dispersion compensator 300 aand the second, even-channel, set 104 b output from the 1×2 channelseparator 504 is subsequently input to the second chromatic dispersioncompensator 300 b. Each of the chromatic dispersion compensator 300a-300 b comprises any number m (m≧1) of sequentially disposed individualcompensators in accordance with either the first embodiment 100 (FIG.1a) or the second embodiment 200 (FIG. 2a) of the compensator inaccordance with the present invention.

In operation of the system 550 (FIG. 5b), a composite optical signal 104comprising the n channels λ₁-λ_(n) is input to the to the 1×2 channelseparator 504 at input port 506 a wherein it is separated into a firstset 104 a comprising the odd channels output from output port 508 a anda second set 104 b comprising the even channels output from output port508 b. It is assumed that the channels of the input composite opticalsignal 104 do not comprise chromatic dispersion. The 1×2 channelseparator 504 produces undesired chromatic dispersion within each one ofthe channels comprising the two sets 104 a-104 b. The two sets 104 a-104b are then delivered to chromatic dispersion compensators 300 a and 300b, respectively. The chromatic dispersion compensator 300 a producesadditional chromatic dispersion within each channel that substantiallycancels the chromatic dispersion previously produced in the set 104 a bythe 1×2 channel separator 504. Likewise, the chromatic dispersioncompensator 300 b produces additional chromatic dispersion within eachchannel that substantially cancels the chromatic dispersion previouslyproduced in the output 104 b by the 1×2 channel separator 504. Theperiodicity of the chromatic dispersion added by the chromaticdispersion compensator 300 a (300 b) is tuned so as to be substantiallyout of phase with the undesired chromatic dispersion within the odd(even) channels. Therefore, the channels comprising each of the sets 105a-105 b of the chromatic dispersion compensators 300 a-300 b exhibitsubstantially no chromatic dispersion upon output from the system 550.

FIG. 5c illustrates a third preferred embodiment of a system forcompensating for chromatic dispersion in accordance with the presentinvention. In system 570, the chromatic dispersion of a 2×2 channelseparator 504 is compensated. In the system 570, a 2×2 channel separator504 is optically coupled in sequence with two chromatic dispersioncompensators 300 a-300 b such that the first set 104 c of channelsoutput from output port 508 a of the 2×2 channel separator 504 issubsequently input to the first chromatic dispersion compensator 300 a,and the second set 104 d of channels output from output port 508 b ofthe 2×2 channel separator 504 is subsequently input to the secondchromatic dispersion compensator 300 b. The 2×2 channel separator 504receives a first composite optical signal 104 a comprising the channelsλ₁-λ_(n) and a second composite optical signal 104 b comprising thechannels λ₁′-λ_(n)′ from one or more fiber optic communications systemsor lines at the input ports 506 a and 506 b respectively. The 2×2channel separator 504 subsequently separates and recombines the channelssuch that the odd channels from the first composite optical signal 104 aand the even channels from the second composite optical signal 104 b areoutput from output 508 a as the single composite optical signal 104 cwhilst the even channels from the first composite optical signal 104 aand the odd channels from the second composite optical signal 104 b areoutput from output port 508 b as the single composite optical signal 104d. In operation of the system 570, the 2×2 channel separator 504produces undesired chromatic dispersion within each one of the channelscomprising the two composite optical signals 104 c-104 d. This undesiredchromatic dispersion is then compensated by each of the chromaticdispersion compensators 300 a-300 b such that the channels comprisingthe composite optical signals 105 c and 105 d comprise substantially noresidual chromatic dispersion upon being output from the system 570 toone or more fiber optic communication systems or lines.

In the system 500 (FIG. 5a), the system 550 (FIG. 5b) and the system 570(FIG. 5c), the channel separator 504 may comprise the channel separator400 illustrated in FIGS. 4a-4 b. However, the channel separator 504 maycomprise any channel separator and need not be limited to the particularstructure of the channel separator 400. Various other examples ofchannel separators that utilize a non-linear interferometer and whichmay be utilized as the channel separator 504 are disclosed in thefollowing co-pending U.S. Patent Applications, all assigned to theassignee of the present application: “Fiber Optic Wavelength DivisionMultiplexer With a Phase Differential Method of Wavelength SeparationUtilizing Glass Blocks and a Nonlinear Interferometer”, Ser. No.09/248,021 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,215,926, filed Feb. 10, 1999; “DenseWavelength Division Multiplexer Utilizing an Asymmetric Pass BandInterferometer”, Ser. No. 09/388,350 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,310,690, filedSep. 1, 1999; “High-Isolation Dense Wavelength Division MultiplexerUtilizing a Polarization Beam Splitter, Non-Linear Interferometers &Birefringent Plates”, Ser. No. 09/348,752 U.S. Pat. No. 6,263,129, filedJul. 6, 1999; “High-Isolation Dense Wavelength Division MultiplexerUtilizing Birefringent Plates and a Non-Linear Interferometer”, Ser. No.09/404,005, filed Sep. 23, 1999; “Multi-Functional Optical DeviceUtilizing Multiple Polarization Beam Splitters and Non-LinearInterferometers”, Ser. No. 09/630,891, filed Aug. 2, 2000 and“Multi-Function Optical Device Utilizing Multiple Birefringent Platesand Non-Linear Interferometers”, Ser. No. 09/645,232 now U.S. Pat. No.6,396,629, filed Aug. 24, 2000. All of these co-pending U.S. PatentApplications are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.

The chromatic dispersion compensator in accordance with the presentinvention may also be utilized advantageously to compensate chromaticdispersion produced by a dense optical channel comb filter utilizing anon-linear interferometer. FIGS. 6a-7 b illustrate example optical combfilters. FIGS. 8a-8 b, respectively, illustrate a fourth and a fifthpreferred embodiment of a system for compensating for chromaticdispersion in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6a illustrates a side view of a dense optical channel comb filterthat utilizes a birefringent wedge and a non-linear interferometer. Thedense optical channel comb filter 600 is described in more detail in aco-pending U.S. Patent Application assigned to the assignee of thepresent application, entitled “Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexerwhich Includes a Dense Optical Channel Comb Filter” Ser. No. 09/401,686filed Sep. 23, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,205,270, which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety. The comb filter 600 comprises twooptical fibers 601 and 602 mounted in parallel and disposed side byside. Fiber 601 is used for signal input and fiber 602 is used forsignal output. For geometric reference, the common axis of the twofibers 601 and 602 defines the axis of comb filter 600. The comb filter600 also comprises a lens 603, a wedge-shaped plate 604 composed of abirefringent material such as calcite, rutile or lithium niobate, and anon-linear interferometer 605. The lens 603 is disposed such that it iscentered on the comb filter axis at a distance from the end faces ofinput fiber 601 and output fiber 602 equivalent to its focal length, f.Also, the birefringent wedge 604 is disposed along the filter axis tothe opposite side of the lens 603 from fibers 601 and 602 and thenon-linear interferometer 605 is disposed to the opposite side of wedge604 from lens 603. A major dimension of the non-linear interferometer605 is oriented at an angle to the comb filter main axis. The non-linearinterferometer 605 is constructed and operates similarly to thatutilized in the channel separator 400 (FIG. 4a) and is described indetail in the aforementioned co-pending U.S. Patent Application“Nonlinear Interferometer for Fiber Optic Dense Wavelength DivisionMultiplexer Utilizing a Phase Differential Method of WavelengthSeparation”.

FIG. 7a illustrates another example of a dense optical channel combfilter that utilizes a non-linear interferometer. The dense opticalchannel comb filter 700 is described in more detail in a co-pending U.S.Patent Application assigned to the assignee of the present applicationentitled “Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexer which Includes a DenseOptical Channel Comb Filter” Ser. No. 09/574,650 now U.S. Pat. No.6,393,176 filed May 18, 2000, which is incorporated herein by referencein its entirety. In the dense optical channel comb filter 700, the inputand output fiber 601-602 and the lens 603 are disposed similarly to therespective similarly numbered components of comb filter 600 (FIG. 6a).However, in the comb filter 700, a first birefringent wedge 604 a and asecond birefringent wedge 604 b replace the single birefringent wedge604 of the dense optical channel comb filter 600 (FIG. 6a) and thenon-linear interferometer 605 is not tilted with respect to an axisdefined by the long dimension of the fibers. The shapes of the twobirefringent wedges 604 a-604 b are identical to one another except thatthe second wedge 604 b is inverted relative to the first wedge 604 a.The respective optic axes of the birefringent wedges 604 a-604 b aredisposed perpendicular to one another.

FIG. 6b and FIG. 7b illustrate the pathways of first and second sets ofchannels through the comb filter 600 and through the comb filter 700,respectively. In either of these figures, the upper drawing representsthe pathways of a first set 610 a of channels—either even or odd—thatare transmitted through the respective apparatus whereas the lowerdrawing represents the pathways of a second set 610 b of channels thatare interleaved with the first set and that are not transmitted throughthe respective comb filters 600, 700. The input 610 to either combfilter 600 (FIG. 6b) or comb filter 700 (FIG. 7b) is a composite opticalsignal that may comprise both sets 610 a-610 b of channels. Furtherdetails of the operation of comb filter 600 and comb filter 700 aredescribed in the aforementioned co-pending U.S. Patent Applicationshaving Ser. No. 09/401,686 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,2-5,270 and Ser. No.09/574,650 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,393,176, respectively.

FIGS. 8a-8 b, respectively, illustrate a fourth and a fifth preferredembodiment of a system for compensating for chromatic dispersion inaccordance with the present invention. In systems 800 (FIG. 8a) and 850(FIG. 8b), the chromatic dispersion for a dense optical channel combfilter is compensated. In the system 800 (FIG. 8a), a chromaticdispersion compensator 300 and a dense optical channel comb filter 806are optically coupled in sequence such that the output of the chromaticdispersion compensator 300 is subsequently input to the dense opticalchannel comb filter 806. The dense optical channel comb filter 806 maycomprise either the comb filter 600 (FIG. 6a) or the comb filter 700(FIG. 7a). The chromatic dispersion compensator 300 adds chromaticdispersion to each of the channels of a composite optical signal 104that is input from a fiber optic communications system or line. Thecomposite optical signal 105 comprises this added chromatic dispersionand is output from the chromatic dispersion compensator 300 andsubsequently input to the dense optical channel comb filter 806. Thedense optical channel comb filter 806 produces additional chromaticdispersion within each one of the channels comprising the outputs. Thechromatic dispersion compensator 300 of system 800 is configured suchthat the chromatic dispersion produced by the dense optical channel combfilter 806 substantially cancels the chromatic dispersion previouslyproduced by the chromatic dispersion compensator 300. Therefore, thechannels comprising the output of the dense optical channel comb filter806 exhibit substantially no chromatic dispersion upon output from thesystem 800. The output of comb filter 806 either comprises the set 105 aof odd channels or the set 105 b of even channels. The system 850 (FIG.8b) is similar to the system 800 (FIG. 8a) except that the relativepositions of the dense optical channel comb filter 806 and the chromaticdispersion compensator 300 are reversed.

Finally, FIG. 9 illustrates a sixth preferred embodiment of a system forcompensating for chromatic dispersion in accordance with the presentinvention. In the system 900 (FIG. 9), a first fiber opticcommunications system or line 902 is optically coupled to the input of achromatic dispersion compensator 300 and a second fiber opticcommunications system or line 904 is optically coupled to the output ofthe chromatic dispersion compensator 300. A composite optical signal 504comprising the n optical channels λ₁ ^(u)-λ_(n) ^(u), wherein all suchchannels comprise an approximately equivalent amount of undesiredchromatic dispersion, is input to the chromatic dispersion compensator300 via the first fiber optic communications system or line 902. Theundesired chromatic dispersion of the channels λ₁ ^(u)-λ_(n) ^(u) mayresult from optical components and/or from optical fiber within thecommunications system of line 902. The chromatic dispersion compensator300 produces compensatory chromatic dispersion within each of theoptical channels, as previously described. The resulting compositeoptical signal 505, comprising the n dispersion-compensated channelsλ₁-λ_(n) is then output to the second fiber optic communications systemor line 904.

An improved chromatic dispersion compensator have been disclosed. In apreferred embodiment, the chromatic dispersion compensator comprises aninput optical fiber, an output optical fiber, a collimator opticallycoupled to the input and output optical fibers, and a Gires-Tournoisinterferometer optically coupled to the collimator at a side opposite tothe input and output optical fibers. A plurality of sequentiallyoptically coupled chromatic dispersion compensators may also be used.The compensator in accordance with the present invention providesflexibility in producing periodically varying chromatic dispersion so asto compensate for unwanted periodic chromatic dispersion produced in aninterferometric interleaved channel separator. Also, the compensatorenables compensation of fiber optic chromatic dispersion.

Although the present invention has been described in accordance with theembodiments shown, one of ordinary skill in the art will readilyrecognize that there could be variations to the embodiments and thosevariations would be within the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. Accordingly, many modifications may be made by one ofordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A dispersion compensator, comprising: an inputoptical fiber; an output optical fiber; a collimator optically coupledto the input and output optical fibers, wherein the collimatorcomprises: a glass plate comprising a first face and a second faceopposite to the first face, wherein the first face of the glass plate isoptically coupled to the input and output optical fibers, and alens/spacer element coupled to the second face of the glass plate,wherein the lens/spacer element comprises: a basal surface coupled tothe second face of the glass plate, a lens optically coupled to thesecond face of the glass plate and coupled to the basal surface, a topsurface opposite to the basal surface, and a first and a second sidewalls each coupled to the basal surface and the top surface; and aninterferometer optically coupled to the collimator at a side opposite tothe input and output optical fibers.
 2. The compensator of claim 1,wherein the lens/spacer element further comprises a plurality of groovesin the basal surface and the top surface, wherein an adhesive may beplaced within the plurality of grooves to couple the lens/spacer elementto the second face of the glass plate and to couple the top surface tothe interferometer.
 3. A dispersion compensator, comprising: an inputoptical fiber; an output optical fiber; a collimator optically coupledto the input and output optical fibers; and an interferometer opticallycoupled to the collimator at a side opposite to the input and outputoptical fibers, wherein the interferometer is a Gires-Tournoisinterferometer, wherein the Gires-Tournois interferometer comprises: afirst glass plate optically coupled to the collimator at the sideopposite to the input and output optical fibers, a second glass plateoptically coupled to the first glass plate at a side opposite to thecollimator, a plurality of spacers coupled to the first and second glassplates, forming a cavity, a first reflective surface coupled to thefirst glass plate on a face inside the cavity, and a second reflectivesurface coupled to the second glass plate on a face inside the cavity.4. The compensator of claim 3, wherein the Gires-Tournois interferometerfurther comprises: an optical length adjustment element residing insidethe cavity and optically coupled to the first and second reflectivesurfaces, wherein the optical length adjustment element may be tilted atan angle with respect to the first and second reflective surfaces. 5.The compensator of claim 4, wherein the angle of the optical lengthadjustment element provides a periodicity to a chromatic dispersion ofthe Gires-Tournois interferometer.
 6. The compensator of claim 4,wherein the angle of the optical length adjustment element isadjustable.
 7. The compensator of claim 3, wherein a length of theplurality of spacers provide a desired periodicity to a chromaticdispersion of the Gires-Tournois interferometer.
 8. The compensator ofclaim 3, wherein the first reflective surface has a reflectivity of lessthan 100%.
 9. The compensator of claim 3, wherein the second reflectivesurface has a reflectivity of approximately 100%.
 10. The compensator ofclaim 3, wherein the Gires-Tournois interferometer further comprises: apiezoelectric element coupled between the second reflective surface andthe second glass plate, wherein a thickness of the piezoelectric elementis variable.
 11. A dispersion compensator, comprising: a plurality ofcompensators, each comprising: an input optical fiber, an output opticalfiber, a collimator optically coupled to the input and output opticalfibers, and an interferometer optically coupled to the collimator at aside opposite to the input and output optical fibers; and a plurality ofoptical couplings, wherein the plurality of optical couplingssequentially optically couples each of the plurality of compensators.12. The compensator of claim 11, wherein the interferometer of one ofthe plurality of compensators is a Gires-Tournois interferometer,wherein the Gires-Tournois interferometer comprises: a first glass plateoptically coupled to the collimator at the side opposite to the inputand output optical fibers; a second glass plate optically coupled to thefirst glass plate at a side opposite to the collimator; a plurality ofspacers coupled to the first and second glass plates, forming a cavity;a first reflective surface coupled to the first glass plate on a faceinside the cavity; and a second reflective surface coupled to the secondglass plate on a face inside the cavity.
 13. The compensator of claim12, wherein the Gires-Tournois interferometer further comprises: anoptical length adjustment element residing inside the cavity andoptically coupled to the first and second reflective surfaces, whereinthe optical length adjustment element may be tilted at an angle withrespect to the first and second reflective surfaces.
 14. The compensatorof claim 13, wherein the angle of the optical length adjustment elementprovides a periodicity of a chromatic dispersion of the Gires-Tournoisinterferometer.
 15. The compensator of claim 13, wherein the angle ofthe optical length adjustment element is adjustable.
 16. The compensatorof claim 12, wherein a length of the plurality of spacers provide adesired periodicity to a chromatic dispersion of the Gires-Tournoisinterferometer.
 17. The compensator of claim 12, wherein the firstreflective surface has a reflectivity of less than 100%.
 18. Thecompensator of claim 12, wherein the second reflective surface has areflectivity of approximately 100%.
 19. The compensator of claim 12,wherein the Gires-Tournois interferometer further comprises: apiezoelectric element coupled between the second reflective surface andthe second glass plate, wherein a thickness of the piezoelectric elementis variable.
 20. The compensator of claim 12, wherein a reflectivity ofthe first reflective surface of each of the plurality of compensators isnot identical.
 21. The compensator of claim 11, wherein the collimatorof one of the plurality of compensators comprises: a glass platecomprising a first face and a second face opposite to the first face,wherein the first face of the glass plate is optically coupled to theinput and output optical fibers; and a lens/spacer element coupled tothe second face of the glass plate, wherein the lens/spacer elementcomprises: a basal surface coupled to the second face of the glassplate, a lens optically coupled to the second face of the glass plateand coupled to the basal surface, a top surface opposite to the basalsurface, and a first and a second side walls each coupled to the basalsurface and the top surface.
 22. The compensator of claim 21, whereinthe lens/spacer element further comprises a plurality of grooves in thebasal surface and the top surface, wherein an adhesive may be placedwithin the plurality of grooves to couple the lens/spacer element to thesecond face of the glass plate and to couple the top surface to theinterferometer.
 23. The compensator of claim 11, wherein the input andoutput optical fibers of one of the plurality of compensators areapproximately equidistant from a main axis of the compensator.
 24. Thecompensator of claim 11, wherein the collimator of one of the pluralityof compensators comprises a lens.
 25. A system, comprising: at least onedispersion compensator, comprising: an input optical fiber, an outputoptical fiber, a collimator optically coupled to the input and outputoptical fibers, and an interferometer optically coupled to thecollimator at a side opposite to the input and output optical fibers;and a channel separator optically coupled to the at least one dispersioncompensator.
 26. The system of claim 25, wherein the channel separatorcomprises a first input port, a first output port, and a second outputport.
 27. The system of claim 26, wherein the at least one compensatoris optically coupled to the input port.
 28. The system of claim 26,wherein the at least one compensator comprises: a first compensatoroptically coupled to the first output port; and a second compensatoroptically coupled to the second output port.
 29. The system of claim 26,wherein the channel separator further comprises a second input port,wherein a first compensator is optically coupled to the first outputport, wherein a second compensator is optically coupled to the secondoutput port.
 30. The system of claim 26, wherein the channel separatorfurther comprises: a polarization beam splitter optically coupled to thesecond output port at a second face of the polarization beam splitter,and optically coupled to the first input port and to the first outputport at a first face adjacent to the first input port; a first nonlinearinterferometer optically coupled to the polarization beam splitter at aface opposite to the first input port and the first output port; and asecond nonlinear interferometer optically coupled to the polarizationbeam splitter at a face opposite to the second output port.
 31. Thesystem of claim 25, wherein the interferometer is a Gires-Tournoisinterferometer, wherein the Gires-Tournois interferometer comprises: afirst glass plate optically coupled to the collimator at the sideopposite to the input and output optical fibers; a second glass plateoptically coupled to the first glass plate at a side opposite to thecollimator; a plurality of spacers coupled to the first and second glassplates, forming a cavity; a first reflective surface coupled to thefirst glass plate on a face inside the cavity; and a second reflectivesurface coupled to the second glass plate on a face inside the cavity.32. The system of claim 31, wherein the Gires-Tournois interferometerfurther comprises: an optical length adjustment element residing insidethe cavity and optically coupled to the first and second reflectivesurfaces, wherein the optical length adjustment element may be tilted atan angle with respect to the first and second reflective surfaces. 33.The system of claim 31, wherein the Gires-Tournois interferometerfurther comprises: a piezoelectric element coupled between the secondreflective surface and the second glass plate, wherein a thickness ofthe piezoelectric element is variable.
 34. The system of claim 25,wherein the collimator comprises a lens.
 35. The system of claim 25,wherein the collimator comprises: a glass plate comprising a first faceand a second face opposite to the first face, wherein the first face ofthe glass plate is optically coupled to the input and output opticalfibers; and a lens/spacer element coupled to the second face of theglass plate, wherein the lens/spacer element comprises: a basal surfacecoupled to the second face of the glass plate, a lens optically coupledto the second face of the glass plate and coupled to the basal surface,a top surface opposite to the basal surface, and a first and a secondside walls each coupled to the basal surface and the top surface.
 36. Asystem, comprising: a dispersion compensator, comprising: an inputoptical fiber, an output optical fiber, a collimator optically coupledto the input and output optical fibers, and an interferometer opticallycoupled to the collimator at a side opposite to the input and outputoptical fibers; and an optical comb filter optically coupled to thedispersion compensator.
 37. The system of claim 36, wherein the opticalcomb filter comprises: an input port; an output port; a lens opticallycoupled to the input and output ports; a first birefringent wedge-shapedplate optically coupled to the lens at a side opposite to the input andoutput ports; and a nonlinear interferometer optically coupled to thefirst birefringent wedge-shaped plate at a side opposite to the lens.38. The system of claim 37, wherein the dispersion compensator isoptically coupled to the input port of the optical comb filter.
 39. Thesystem of claim 37, wherein the dispersion compensator is opticallycoupled to the output port of the optical comb filter.
 40. The system ofclaim 37, wherein the optical comb filter further comprises: a secondbirefringent wedge-shaped plate optically coupled between the firstbirefringent wedge-shaped plate and the nonlinear interferometer. 41.The system of claim 36, wherein the interferometer is a Gires-Tournoisinterferometer, wherein the Gires-Tournois interferometer comprises: afirst glass plate optically coupled to the collimator at the sideopposite to the input and output optical fibers; a second glass plateoptically coupled to the first glass plate at a side opposite to thecollimator; a plurality of spacers coupled to the first and second glassplates, forming a cavity; a first reflective surface coupled to thefirst glass plate on a face inside the cavity; and a second reflectivesurface coupled to the second glass plate on a face inside the cavity.42. The system of claim 41, wherein the Gires-Tournois interferometerfurther comprises: a piezoelectric element coupled between the secondreflective surface and the second glass plate, wherein a thickness ofthe piezoelectric element is variable.
 43. The system of claim 41,wherein the Gires-Tournois interferometer further comprises: an opticallength adjustment element residing inside the cavity and opticallycoupled to the first and second reflective surfaces, wherein the opticallength adjustment element may be tilted at an angle with respect to thefirst and second reflective surfaces.
 44. The system of claim 36,wherein the collimator comprises a lens.
 45. The system of claim 36,wherein the collimator comprises: a glass plate comprising a first faceand a second face opposite to the first face, wherein the first face ofthe glass plate is optically coupled to the input and output opticalfibers; and a lens/spacer element coupled to the second face of theglass plate, wherein the lens/spacer element comprises: a basal surfacecoupled to the second face of the glass plate, a lens optically coupledto the second face of the glass plate and coupled to the basal surface,a top surface opposite to the basal surface, and a first and a secondside walls each coupled to the basal surface and the top surface.
 46. Asystem, comprising: a first fiber optic communications system, whereinthe first fiber optic communications system transmits a compositeoptical signal with a chromatic dispersion; a dispersion compensator,comprising: an input optical fiber optically coupled to the first fiberoptic communications system, an output optical fiber, a collimatoroptically coupled to the input and output optical fibers, and aninterferometer optically coupled to the collimator at a side opposite tothe input and output optical fibers; and a second fiber opticcommunications system optically coupled to the output optical fiber ofthe dispersion compensator, wherein the second fiber opticcommunications system the composite optical signal compensated for thechromatic dispersion.